A series of three titles investigating the relationship between women and spirituality from ancient times to the present. Titles include: Burning Times, an in-depth look at the witch-hunts that swept through Europe just a few hundred years ago (56 min. 10 sec.); Full Circle: Authors, teachers, social activists and feminists explore manifestations of contemporary women’s spirituality in the Western world (56 min. 36 sec.); and Goddess Remembered: A salute to the goddess-worshipping religions on the ancient past featuring discussions linking the loss of goddess-centred societies with today’s environmental crisis (54 min. 29 sec.).

As one whose spirituality is firmly grounded in Nature, and includes an absolute appreciation for strong and powerful Women who don’t draw their vision of those attributes from motivational memes posted to social media, much of what I found espoused here didn’t clash my mental gears. However there were significant components sprinkled throughout that I did find hard to watch for several reasons, mainly due to the taint of what comes off as neo-pagan cosplay at times, but the political messages that pop above the surface now and then didn’t help.

In any movement that tries to build itself back up on an ancient and honourable foundation, long after much of the original structure has been ploughed under, there will be gatherings to hear speakers who strike a note within the heart and mind of every listener. Each will stroke their chin and nod their head in agreement with all present, each unaware that there are as many understandings of what’s been heard as there are listeners. This is the hazard words bring when employed to explain what might be thought self-evidently desirable.

Nevertheless, there is much of value here, particularly when taken in context as part of the trilogy, and so I include it for your consideration.

Comments

4 Responses to “Dark Sentiments Season 8 — Day 17: Full Circle”

I have learned in my short sojourn here on the third pebble that women of substance do not rely on artificial explanations or definitions of how and what they should be or what they are. A strong woman, rare that she is, KNOWS, instinctively, the requirements for maintaining the solidity of the family structure and has no issues with self-identity based on the oxy-moronics of our times, or picking up a rifle should that become a necessity.. Those that prefer to make the voyage as soloists also understand the reality of maintaining the self in times of stress, as well and will attach to a strong mate (sexual preference not withstanding) and make the way forward. I believe I worked this theme in one of my short stories that I recently sent to you, “Magic Lady.”

“… women of substance do not rely on artificial explanations or definitions of how and what they should be or what they are.” Most assuredly! A thing that most could learn from in this age of, “Gee, I wish I could find a bunch of people with a horse I could hitch my cart to so I could validate the worth of my opinion!”

By the way, in wake of your comment, I reread “Magic Lady” You and I are certainly of a cloth.

As an addendum, I don’t think specific ‘identifiable’ spirituality is a requirement for acknowledgement of personal greatness, but rather an acceptance of one’s own magnificence according to one’s own perspective on the cosmic connection that all creatures are aligned with in one way or another. Religiosity is one of the major impediments to understanding enlightenment and living accordingly. More of this at another time, I would venture.

“I don’t think specific ‘identifiable’ spirituality is a requirement for acknowledgement of personal greatness, but rather an acceptance of one’s own magnificence according to one’s own perspective on the cosmic connection that all creatures are aligned with in one way or another.”

Everything, including Man, has this woven into its DNA, but religiosity, as you put it, seeks to set Man apart from and above all others. Chosen — ah! There’s something to talk about!

As I wrote a while back, “It takes no more than one generation of removal in time to distance human understanding from any heretofore common experience, no matter how horrific, and history has shown that people can function through pretty much anything, using it as a motivation for improvement (As Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”) Two generations of removal will also remove most of those with direct experience to relate from the late unpleasantness, and so the new reality becomes the expected one. The real one. The only one. The one that’s supposed to be owed to you and yours.”